Welcome to the Purdue Monumental Dog Jog webpage. Last year it was very gratifying seeing more than 90 runners and dogs trotting and pushing to their limits through Purdue West Lafayette Campus. We are fortunate to live in a community that loves and cares for dogs and other pets. While running in the early morning and on the drive home after a day’s work, I see runners and walkers with their dogs. That picture tells me that dogs and human beings love to do physical activity together. Who profits more from it? I think it is a win-win situation. Humans may think that their dogs need the exercise to stay healthy and dogs may think that their beloved owners need it too! How many times you have seen your dog getting excited when it sees you getting ready for a run? Sometimes they get so excited that they need to be told to calm down; it is just a run, you may think after having second thoughts about what you are going to do next. And while you do all the ritual of changing clothes, lacing your high-tech running shoes and stretching your muscles, your furred friend watches you, probably thinking: why do humans make running so complicated? For dogs, I think, running is more than the physical exercise, it is a way to stay close to you, to do something with you, to refresh their senses with new scents, sights, experiences … in other words, this physical activity make them happy even if they are tired afterwards. Do you remember the term endorphins, the “well-being hormones”? They are released by humans and animals (including dogs) when doing pleasurable activities and it is proven that physical activity, including running, even if you end up tired, promotes their production and release. In other words, running with your dog will make both of you feel better; that’s the bottom line. A good resource for running with a dog is in Runner’s World magazine. The September issue features several articles of running with dogs. By the way, did you know that Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine has one of the world experts (Dr. Allan Beck) on human-animal bond science? Check a recent article featuring him in USA Weekend

We hope you join other runners and dogs for the second Purdue Monumental 5K Dog Jog in October 2^nd at 9 AM at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue West Lafayette Campus. You will experience not only the benefits of physical activity but the pleasure of a run through the Purdue Campus in early fall. And if you do not have or cannot bring your dog, you still can run/walk either a 5K or 15K and share your experiences with other runners after the race. Your participation will help us to give back to the Lafayette community via three programs, the YWCA, the PetSafe and Natalie's Second Chance Dog Shelter. Check their websites for more information. If you cannot make it, we would be glad to accept a donation for these charities via the online race registration website. Also, please check the race sponsors’ web sites. Without their help, this race would have been very difficult to organize.

As in any race, volunteers will be the core of the Purdue 5K Dog Jog and 15K race. My sincere appreciation to them. They will be in charge of essential duties such as aid stations, traffic control and race information.

I look forward to seeing you and your furred friend on race day.

José (Pepe) Ramos-Vara, Purdue Dog Jog Race Director